When my mother/best friend was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer, we thought our lives were over. My mother always insisted that she would NEVER endure the torture her Grandmother, who had been diagnosed back in the 1970's, had experienced. Through gentle persuasion, we convinced her that treatment had changed drastically since then and she decided to fight.
Fight it she did and was cancer free . . . until she was diagnosed with a second primary cancer - pancreatic which had already metastasized to her liver. According to the doctors, this was very rare. They gave her three to five months to survive and called upon Hospice. She fought hard and, in fact, beat the odds given to her. She was a real champ who did not want to leave her daughter behind.

Reviews

Alessio P.

5.0 out of 5 stars - Thoughtful and honest

The authors share both sides of a cancer diagnosis -that of patient and caregiver -with a hard truth that is inspiring. The emotions shared are definitely raw, but also understandable. I would recommend this book to survivors and those going through anticipatory grief. I hope writing this book was a cathartic experience for the authors.

This book is one of the best books I have ever read! It is heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time.

The unique aspect is that it is told from the viewpoint of both C.J., the cancer victim and her daughter Beth, through a series of regular blogs. The book is a profound insight into the daily hurdles of fighting this horrible disease, while at the same time showcasing a mother and daughters love for each other.

I also found it to be quite enlightening with regards to the various steps, tests, and procedures involved in fighting cancer. Since every one of us will be touched by this disease at some point in our lives, whether it's our self, a family member, a friend, co-worker, etc. It is a MUST READ.

5.0 out of 5 stars - A compassionate love story of a mother and daughter and the will to survive.

Excellent story of a mother/daughter's close bond and their hopeful emotions expressed by each of them individually dealing with cancer. If you know anyone battling cancer or are curious about how a family might handle the medical challenges, this book certainly will bring tears to your eyes.

When Beth Pauvlinch’s mother aka best friend in the whole entire world was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer, it took persuasion to convince her to seek treatment. But convince her, Beth did. What resulted was a second cancer diagnosis and a full-blown fight—done with a healthy dose of humor—to not leave her daughter behind. Unfortunately, Beth’s mom did pass away.

Joining Chelsea 9 minutes in, Beth talks about Two Women 1 Disease, the three-year memoir she wrote with her mother as they struggled with life, love, letting go and laughing in the face of cancer. Additionally, she reflects on not seeking support during her grief (and what she chose to do instead), the challenge of being a rock, needing a rock and not wanting to ask for a rock when you are the caretaker, where she found love and purpose after losing her best friend, reconnecting with her estranged father, and being at the forefront of a whole new medium—customized cremation art—so your loved one can be both visible and in motion rather than contained within an urn.

PS: Apologies for any audio glitches. This podcast is very human and prone to beauty and messiness.__

Cancer is a condition that appears sometimes suddenly, sometimes foretold by signs many people tend to miss. It could be there, just waiting to make its presence known and give you a potential hell of a hard time.

What makes the large group of diseases known as cancer so hard to face? It’s that the causes, characteristics, and occurrence can vary greatly and are not particularly well understood even to this day. Raise your fighting chances against cancer by learning all that is known about how it acts, develops and what actions you could take that might prevent it. Get to know all there is to know about cancer by reading these books.

#11 Two Women 1 Disease by Beth Pauvlinch

Two Women 1 Disease was written by both the caregiver and the patient which provides both perspectives of the afflicted and the affected. It is a very real and raw version of the experience that people travel during the rough diagnosis of a terminal illness. It began as a blog; a safe place where both were able to divulge their honest feelings and emotions during all the surgeries, doctors’ appointments, the good news and the bad, and ultimately, the untimely death of the caregiver’s mother and best friend.

A cancer diagnosis can be devastating, regardless of the outlook. The news can also be hard on friends and family, as they struggle to figure out what they can do to help a loved one after the diagnosis. Beth Pauvlinch, who wrote about caring for her mother who lived with cancer in her book Two Women 1 Disease, said various gestures, no matter how small, can go a long way for someone dealing with the illness. Small actions and encouraging words can mean more than you think. Curious about what they are or how you can help? Here are a few tips from experts and those who dealt with cancer firsthand on ways you can support a loved one living with illness:

Celebrate the wins along the way

Cancer can be an emotional rollercoaster that includes waiting for test results, extensive side effects from particular treatments and possibly going through a multitude of surgeries. Erika Hauer, a breast cancer survivor based in New Jersey and brand ambassador for the cancer support website Humanly, said that celebrating little victories can make the process more bearable.“When I was going through treatment, my friends and family rallied behind me by making everything a celebration. We celebrated my chemotherapy, we celebrated by when I got my breasts removed, and so many other milestones,” she said. “Instead of being alone and be sad about what I was going through, I look back on my time during treatment as a party and celebration of life.”

Volunteer for specific tasks

Jann Fujimoto, a speech-language pathologist in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, who is undergoing breast cancer treatment, said having friends and family step up to tackle various tasks for her helped keep her mind at ease.Make specific overtures, “such as offering to drive to chemo (or other medical appointments), take over family carpool responsibilities, organize meals coming to the house, host extra playdates/sleepovers for children,” she said. And if you offer assistance, make sure of your the availability to follow through without undue effort. It’s important that the person you’re helping “doesn’t feel as if they are inconveniencing you,” said Danielle T. Calvano, a breast program clinical navigator at White Plains Hospital Center for Cancer Care in New York.